International

For years SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong has been doing his best to ward off European Commission plans to liberalise domestic road transport. Confronted with drivers’ tales of exploitation and oppression, Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc seemed persuaded, and the impression was created that measures would be taken. Yet now Europe’s transport unions are hearing that in reality Bulc is determined to go ahead with liberalisation. This would leave Dutch drivers, amongst others, out in the cold.

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Today the European Parliament voted to support SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong's report on the EP's expenditure accounts for 2015. ´On a number of points we were able to reach agreement on improving efficiency, working in a more results-targeted way, and more transparency. When it came to tax free reimbursements that MEPs receive in relation to just about anything, however, they continue to refuse to agree to accountability. Evidently that's too close to home.'

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The Council of Europe is to step up surveillance of Turkey in order to keep better track of how human rights are being restricted or removed and of where President Erdogan’s decisions  and those of his government are in conflict with the country’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or fail to respect the norms of a democratic and constitutional state. A resolution to begin this official monitoring procedure was carried by a large majority in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The Council of Europe is  Europe’s biggest treaty-based organisation with forty-seven member states, amongst which is Turkey.  

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SP Euro-MP Anne-Marie Mineur describes herself as pleased by the outcome of her fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka. Under pressure resulting from her visit, Labour Minister John Seneviratne has stated that he will ensure that 50% of the financial gains from additional trade with the European Union will go directly to the island nation’s workers and that he is prepared to make this an enforceable target. He has received support in this from the employers’ organisation Board of Investors (BOI).

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SP Member of Parliament Renske Leijten wants it made compulsory for multinational corporations (MNCs) to declare how much tax they pay and where they pay it. A range of studies and reports have demonstrated that MNCs use a variety of structures to ensure that they pay as little tax as possible. Developing countries are among those who are losing many billions every year in tax receipts as a result.

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This morning the Luxemburgplein in front of the European Parliament was packed with demonstrators, people who feel the effects of social dumping in Europe every day. They were protesting against unfair competition between workers from different EU member states. Not only in the Netherlands, but also in Belgium and other west European countries, east European workers suffer exploitation. This is leading in turn to oppressive conditions in the labour market and represents a direct threat to the livelihoods of west European workers.

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